Call panel for an elevator

ABSTRACT

The object of the invention is call panel for an elevator. The call panel comprises an essentially planar front surface and a center panel bounding the front surface, and at least one call pushbutton separate from the display panel and belonging to the front surface.

The object of the invention is a call panel for an elevator as definedin the preamble of claim 1.

An elevator call is most usually given with call pushbuttons, e.g. withpushbuttons on which a direction arrow or floor number or other symbolis marked.

The aim of the present invention is to improve the clarity as well asthe usability of an elevator panel.

The characteristic features with regard to a call panel according to theinvention are referred to in the claims.

The call panel applying the invention comprises an essentially planarfront surface and a center panel bounding the front surface and a callpushbutton separate from the center panel and belonging to the frontsurface. Essentially planar means in this context that to the passengerthe surfaces of the parts of the panel are, when inspected visually,parallel and that no significant thresholds are felt when touching theborders of the parts. The invention is primarily applied in animplementation of a landing call device for an elevator.

Preferably the center panel is a display panel, comprising a displaydevice able to display at least one alphanumeric or other symbol orgraphical information.

By disposing the call pushbuttons above or below the center panelaccording to whether an up call pushbutton or down call pushbutton is inquestion, an intuitive understanding for the user about the purpose ofthe pushbuttons is achieved without separate guidance. Conventionally,an arrow figure or corresponding is used in up pushbuttons and down callpushbuttons as a user guide. In practical situations the position of thepushbutton can replace, or at least reinforce the guidance to beobtained from an arrow figure.

The information brought to a user by a call panel becomes clearer whenthe panel is presented to the user as just a center panel containing apossible call panel and as call pushbuttons. Preferably the center panelhas information about the floor on which the call panel is situated. Thedisplay of the center panel can present information about calls andabout the movement of the elevator.

Pressing a call pushbutton produces movement between the center paneland the call pushbutton. Limits are arranged for the relative movementas also is returning in the structure of the call panel. Preferablypressing a call pushbutton causes folding of the call pushbutton inrelation to the plane of the center panel, which is arranged by hingingthe center panel and a call pushbutton to each other either directly orvia a support structure. Just a slight folding of a call pushbuttonmaintains the impression given to the user of preserving an unbrokenfront surface of the call panel but nevertheless gives an impressionthat the call pushbutton responds when giving a call.

The gap that is on the edges of the call panel, between the pushbuttonsand the frame of the call panel, and that is visible to the exterior ispreferably protected from penetration with an obstructing structureformed in the gap. This structure preventing penetration can be in onlya part of the length of the gap visible outwards or more preferably canextend for the whole length of the gap. A preferred preventive structureis toothing, on the frame of the call panel or on a pushbutton of thecall panel or on both of these, extending into the gap. By making thetoothing alternate in such a way that the teeth interleave in the gap,the gap can be made to be in practice closed.

In the following, the invention will be described in detail withreference to the attached drawings, wherein

FIG. 1 presents a front view of a call panel applying the invention,

FIG. 2 presents a front view of a second call panel applying theinvention,

FIG. 3 presents the call panel of FIG. 1, as viewed from the front andright,

FIG. 4 further presents a call panel applying the invention, as viewedfrom the front and right,

FIG. 5 shows a wall fastener of a call panel,

FIG. 6 presents a call panel when partly opened,

FIG. 7 shows a call panel when partly equipped, and

FIG. 8 shows a pushbutton of a call panel.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings the center panel of thecall panel is dark and the call pushbuttons above and below the centerpanel are lighter. On the call pushbuttons is an arrow figure, either anup arrow or a down arrow. In the center part in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is adisplay, on which is presented with a direction arrow the direction oftravel of the elevator and with alphanumerical marks the floorinformation. Depending on the properties of the display, also otherinformation can also be presented with the display. The call panels ofFIGS. 1, 3 and 4 are primarily intended as call panels of individualelevators, but they are suited for use also as call panels of anelevator group of two or more elevators. The call panel of FIG. 2 ismore particularly intended to be the call panel of a group of twoelevators. In the call panel of FIG. 2 the display is arranged topresent two different sets of floor and direction data of the elevator.By arranging the display differently or with another type of displaythan that presented in the figure, the call panel of the figure can beapplied more generally also than in groups of two elevators.

In the call panel of FIG. 4 the center panel does not have a displaydevice.

FIG. 5 shows a wall fastener of the call panel. Preferably the wallfastener is fabricated from metal plate. Shapes that protrude from theplane of the plate and increase rigidity can be made in it by pressingor bending. The wall fastener 101 comprises hook-shaped support parts103, supported by which the actual frame of the call panel is suspended.A preferred method for forming a wall fastener is to fabricate it fromone piece of plate, in which case the support parts are the same pieceas it, and bent to protrude at the edges of the plate piece outwardsfrom the wall. Likewise the wall fastener comprises a locking detent102, to which the frame of the call panel is fixed with a fixing screwor with another suitable locking means or fixing means. The wallfastener preferably also comprises one or more holes or an edge slotfrom which the wall fastener can be fixed to the wall with a screwfixing or corresponding. The wall fastener preferably also comprises atleast one hole, a signal conductor or other interface or signalconductors can be brought into the call panel. Preferably the wallfastener also comprises holes receiving the protrusions of the frame ofthe call panel or components fixed to the frame or giving space tothese.

FIG. 6 shows the call panel without the lower pushbutton and FIG. 7 theframe 104 of the call panel partly equipped with the components to beconnected to it. FIG. 8 shows a rear view of a pushbutton of the callpanel.

The frame 104 of the call panel fixes to the support parts 103 by meansof the countershapes 105 formed in the frame. The frame comprises athreaded hole 106, into which comes a fixing screw gripping to thelocking detent 102 of the wall fastener 101. The locking between thewall fastener and the frame of the call panel can be done otherwise,e.g. with a snap-on joint, which can be opened via the hole 106, inwhich case the hole does not need to be threaded.

The center panel 107 and the pushbuttons 108 are connected to the frame104 of the call panel. The front surfaces of the center panel and of thepushbuttons are on essentially the same plane. On the pushbuttons thereis preferably a direction arrow or other marking indicating the purposeof the pushbutton, e.g. for an up call there is an upward-pointing, moreor less stylized arrow FIG. 109. Preferably the arrow figure or othermarking is translucent through the pushbutton and it can be illuminatedwith a luminaire 110 to be disposed in the frame. The luminaire 110 canbe resolved in many ways. The luminaire seen in FIGS. 6 and 7 comprisesas its base part a photoconductive plate piece, which is shaped toradiate light primarily from its edges, and a photodiode 111 (LED)supplying light into the plate piece 110.

The center panel 107 is visually distinguishable from the pushbuttons.The center panel can itself form the display or more preferably thecenter panel 107 is a transparent structure, possibly darkened orshaded, behind which is a separate display device 112. Preferably alsoan internal control unit 113 of the call panel is in connection with orin the position of the display device, which control unit is inconnection with the rest of the elevator system. The control unit 113,display device 112 and other electrical or electronic components of thecall panel are disposed and connected on a circuit board 114, which issupported in its position on the frame 104 of the call panel. On thecircuit board 114 is also a sound source 115, preferably a loudspeaker,with which information relating to the operation of the elevator, e.g.an arrival at floor ring or even verbal information, is given. Inaddition, the sound source can be used to give a feedback sound aboutthe pressing of a pushbutton.

The pushbuttons 108 are, at their center panel end, hinged to the centerpanel 107 or to the frame 104 with a hinge arrangement 117 a, 117 b inthe proximity of the juncture line of the center panel 107 and thepushbutton 108. The pushbutton 104 comprises holding claws 118, whichgrip detent points in the frame 104 and limit the pushbutton fromfolding around its hinging outwards from the plane of the center panel107. Support pillars 119 on the pushbutton when they meet the framelimit the folding of the pushbutton when the pushbutton is pressed.Movement of the pushbutton 108 is supported and sprung with a spring120. In connection with the spring 120 is a sensor, e.g. a switch, whichindicates pressing of the pushbutton. The sensor can be disposedotherwise than in connection with the spring.

The center panel 107 and the pushbuttons 108 are configured to extendover the frame 104 of the call panel 104 in such a way that as vieweddirectly from the front the frame is covered behind them. Preferably atleast the center panel covers, even more preferably also a pushbuttoncovers, at least to some extent, the sides of the frame, in which casethe gap 122 between the front surface of the call panel and the frame isdifficult to penetrate. Owing to the play between the frame 104 and thepushbutton 108, the gap between them is difficult to close, at least ifthe aim is to even approximate the same visual appearance as at thepoint of connection of the frame 107 and the center panel. Interleavingtoothing 121 a, 121 b is fitted in the gap 122 between the frame 104 anda pushbutton 108. The teeth 121 a of the frame 104 of the call panel andthe teeth 121 b of a pushbutton 108 alternate in the gap 122 between theframe 104 and a pushbutton 108, effectively preventing penetration ofthe gap and thus protecting the call panel from being damaged and alsofrom dirt. Suitably shaping and dimensioning the teeth on the edges ofthese pieces, the teeth can also function as reinforcing ribbing of theedges. Preferably the teeth are disposed to some extent inwards from theouter edge of the call panel. Likewise, preferably the teeth aredisposed so close to the outer edge of the call panel that obtaining aproper grip under the edge of a pushbutton, e.g. with a fingernail, isdifficult.

Presented in the examples are embodiments in which both an up callpushbutton and a down call pushbutton connect to the center panel. Thecall panel according to the invention can be implemented also in such away that only either the up call pushbutton or down call pushbutton isconnected to the center panel.

The invention is described above using examples with the aid of theattached drawings with different embodiments of the invention beingpossible within the scope of the inventive concept defined by theclaims.

1. A call panel for an elevator, said call panel comprising: an essentially planar front surface; a center panel bounding the front surface; and at least one call pushbutton separate from the center panel and belonging to the front surface.
 2. The call panel according to claim 1, wherein the center panel is a display panel, comprising a display device able to display at least one alphanumeric or other symbol or graphical information.
 3. The call panel according to claim 1, wherein the call panel is a landing call device.
 4. The call panel according to claim 1, wherein the call panel comprises at least one of the following: an up call pushbutton above the center panel, and a down call pushbutton below the center panel.
 5. The call panel according to claim 1, wherein the front surfaces of the center panel and of the call pushbuttons form the front surface of the call panel.
 6. The call panel according to claim 1, wherein the at least one call pushbutton is arranged to fold in relation to a plane of the center panel.
 7. The call panel according to claim 1, wherein movement between the center panel and the at least one call pushbutton is arranged as a response to the pressing of the at least one call pushbutton.
 8. The call panel according to claim 1, wherein the center panel and the at least one call pushbutton are hinged to each other directly or via a support structure.
 9. The call panel according to claim 1, wherein a structure preventing penetration is fitted in a gap that is between the at least one call pushbutton and a frame of the call panel and that is visible to the exterior.
 10. The call panel according to claim 9, wherein the structure preventing penetration is toothing, on the frame of the call panel or on the at least one call pushbutton of the call panel or on both of the frame and the at least one call pushbutton, said toothing extending into the gap.
 11. The call panel according to claim 1, wherein in a gap that is between the at least one call pushbutton of the call panel and a frame of the call panel and that is visible to the exterior is toothing, the toothing being composed of teeth on the frame and of teeth on the at least one call pushbutton.
 12. The call panel according to claim 11, wherein the teeth on the frame and the teeth on the at least one call pushbutton are arranged to alternately interleave.
 13. The panel according to claim 2, wherein the call panel is a landing call device.
 14. The panel according to claim 2, wherein the call panel comprises at least one of the following: an up call pushbutton above the center panel, and a down call pushbutton below the center panel.
 15. The panel according to claim 3, wherein the call panel comprises at least one of the following: an up call pushbutton above the center panel, and a down call pushbutton below the center panel.
 16. The panel according to claim 2, wherein the front surfaces of the center panel and of the call pushbuttons form the front surface of the call panel.
 17. The panel according to claim 3, wherein the front surfaces of the center panel and of the call pushbuttons form the front surface of the call panel.
 18. The panel according to claim 4, wherein the front surfaces of the center panel and of the call pushbuttons form the front surface of the call panel.
 19. The panel according to claim 2, wherein the at least one call pushbutton is arranged to fold in relation to the plane of the center panel.
 20. The panel according to claim 3, wherein the at least one call pushbutton is arranged to fold in relation to the plane of the center panel. 